Foot operated track switch

ABSTRACT

A manual switch operating device for a railway track has a switch-connected lever that is normally locked in either one of two positions and that is easily and quickly moved from one position to another by an end-mounted foot-pressure-operated arm. The foot-operated arm has means for simultaneously unlocking and holding the device in an unlocked position during movement from one position to another and upon reaching the other position to cause an automatic locking of the switch.

United States Patent Kleppick [451 Mar. 28, 1972 54] FOOT OPERATED TRACKSWITCH 269,394 12/1882 Dolan ..246/489 {72] Inventor: Raymond J.Kleppick, 2035 Osgood St., Primary Examiner Anhur LLa Point Plttsburgh15214 Assistant Examiner-D. W. Keen [22] Filed; Ma 13, 1970Attorney-Green, McCallister & Miller [21] Appl. No.: 19,298 [57]ABSTRACT A manual switch operating device for a railway track has a [52]11.8. CI ..246/393, 246/406, 246/489 switch-connected lever that isnormallydocked in either one of [Si] Int. Cl ..B61l5/02 two positionsand that is easily and quickly moved from one [58] Field of Search..246/393, 406, 489 p i i n to nother y n n -mountedfool-pressureoperated arm. The foot-operated arm has means for simul-[56] References Cited taneously unlocking and holding the device in anunlocked position during movement from one position to another andUNITED STATES PATENTS upon reaching the other position to cause anautomatic locking of the switch. l,l27,959 2/1915 Burns ..246/4061,426,542 8/ l 922 Bliznik ..246/393 14 Claims, 9 Drawing FiguresPATENTEMR 2 I972 3. 6 52 84 9 sum 2 [IF 3 INVENTOP RAYMOND J. KLEPPICKIw d H/S ATTORNEYS PmiNtEnmzalslz 3,652,849

sum 3 OF 3 INVENTOR 8 RAYMOND J. 'KL EPPICK H/S ATTORNEYS FOOT OPERATEDTRACK SWITCH This invention relates to an improved type of railway trackswitch which will eliminate the difficulties that have heretofore beeninherent in a hand-operated throw type of switch. The inventionparticularly relates to an efficient foot-operated railway switch.

The invention has been devised to provide a manual, in the sense of aphysically, in-place, operated railway switch that will eliminatedisadvantageous features of the present-day, hand-operated, weightedthrow type of switch. The hand operated type has resulted in many backand leg injuries to railroad personnel and in numerous damage suitswhich have been highly expensive from the standpoint of the railroads.Although electric and other automatic'types of switches have been usedin certain localities, they are in general too expensive and have atendency to stick under bad weather conditions, and are not practical inmany remote areas, as distinguished from sophisticated yard areas. Inother words, there will always be a need for a so-called physically ormanually operated type of switch and the present invention has beendevised to eliminate the adverse features or factors encountered inconnection with the utilization of a so-called hand throw type.

It has thus been an object of the invention to fully evaluate theadverse factors of the so-called hand-throw type of switch and to devicemeans for eliminating such factors while still maintaining a relativelysimple switch construction.

Another object has been to device a new and improved form of trackrailway switch which will be highly effective and safe in itsposition-retention features and, at the same time, will be much simplerand easier to operate.

Another object of the invention has been to provide a device fortranslating foot energy into switch position change.

A further object of the invention has been to devise a railway switchwhich will eliminate the back-bending or stooping, shoulder-lifting andhand-throwing operations of a conventional throw type of switch.

These and other objects of the invention will appear to those skilled inthe art from the illustrated embodiment and the description thereof.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a horizontal section taken along line l1 of FIG. 2,illustrating a switch device or apparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical side sectional view in elevation on the scale ofand taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical end section in elevation on the scale of and takenalong the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side section in elevation on the scale of and taken alongthe line 4-4 of FIG. 1; this view shows locking and operating means in abackward switching position.

FIG. 4A is a fragmental view on the scale of and similar to FIG. 4, butshowing the locking and operating means in a forward locked switchingposition.

FIG. 5 is a greatly reduced fragmental plan view illustrating a trackinstallation employing the device of FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive.

' FIG. 6 is a horizontal section on the scale of and similar to FIG. 1,illustrating a modified form of mechanism for locking and unlocking aswitch device or apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a fragmental side section on the scale of and along the line7-7 of FIG. 6; this view shows locking and operating means in a backwardlocked switching position.

And, FIG. 8 is a back end fragmental section on the scale of and takenalong the line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

In carrying out the invention, as shown in FIG. 5, afootpressure-actuating, position-changing, switch operating device orunit E is provided with an enclosed, rectangularshaped, metal housing 10and an operating member or rod that extends from a forward end thereofand is secured by conventional means 16 to switch points 170 and 17b ofa pair of alternative tracks A and B. In one position, the switch points17a and 17b permit the wheels of a train to move along the rails oftrack A and to, in another or second position, cause the wheels of thetrain to move along the rails of track B. Although no position changelantern is shown, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatan auxiliary shaft may extend upwardly through the top of the housing 10and be connected to turn with movement of a drive shaft 41 when it isactuated to cause a change in position to correspond with movement ofthe operating member 15 between its switching positions. As will benoted, the members of the tracks A and B may be mounted on suitablecross ties C in a conventional manner and the unit E may be secured asby spikes extending through notches in its side flanges 11 on a pair oflonger tie members D.

The device E is adapted to be actuated by a foot-operated arm assembly50 that is mounted on a backwardly-extending end of the drive shaft 41and extends from an opposite end of the housing 10 to move the switchconnected operating rod or member 15 in a reciprocating manner orforwardly and backwardly between its two switching positions,'byalternately-applying foot pressure to depress one end of the assembly 50and then the other end thereof. For astandard size of track, the strokeof the member 15 may be about four and three quarters inches.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, the switch operatingmember or rod 15 is shown provided with a clevis 15a at its back end formounting it on an eyelet or tongue portion 20a of a connecting screw orstem 20 through the agency of a pivot pin 18. As shown, the connectingstem 20, at one end, extends through a front end of the metal housing 10and, at its other end, is provided with a second eyelet or tongueportion 20b which is at right angles to the portion 20a and which ispivotally-connected by a pin 57 to a forward clevis end portion 56a of alocking bar means or assembly 55. An internally threaded sleeve 21 isadjustably mounted on the threaded stem 20 and has a downwardlyprojecting connecting piece 22 secured thereto and connecting it with anupper edge of a forward end portion of a gear rack 25.

The gear rack 25 is adapted to reciprocate or move backwardly andforwardly in a guided relation along an angleshaped guide member 26 thatis secured in any conventional manner to the bottom wall or plate of thehousing 10. The teeth of the rack 25 mesh with a pinion 30 whose teethalso mesh with a ring gear 35. It will be noted (see FIG. 1) that thepinion 30 is secured, as by a key 32, to a vertical pin or stud shaft 31that is journaled within a floor or base mounted bearing stand 33. Thering gear 35 is also mounted on a vertically extending pin or stud shaft37 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) and is integral with and carries a beveled pinion36. The shaft 37 is also journaled in a floor-mounted bearing stand 38.The ring gear 35 and the beveled pinion 36 are secured, as by a mountingbolt or set screw 36a, for rotation with the shaft 37.

As shown particularly in FIG. 2, the beveled pinion 36 meshes with abeveled ring gear 40 that is operatively-secured on a main drive oroperating shaft 41 by means of a set screw or mounting bolt 40a forrotation therewith. As shown in FIG. 2, the inner end of the bolt 40a isadapted to cooperate with and ride in a short-length, circular, slotportion 41b in the shaft 41 to provide for initial lost motion of theshaft with respect to the gear 40 and permit an unlatching means toraise the locking bar means or assembly 55 and release the gear and rackmechanism before attempting to impart motion thereto. The shaft 41 has areduced forward end portion 410 that is journaled within a bearingsleeve portion of a washer 47. The bearing sleeve portion of the washer47 extends through an upright support frame or structure 46 andcooperates with a forwardly positioned end washer 48. The washer 48 isfriction or key-fitted to hold the shaft 41 in a proper operatingposition. The shaft 41 is principally journaled within a main bearingstand 42 which is shown provided with a cap screw or bolt 42a forpermitting lubrication thereof. The stand 42 is shown mounted by meansof bolts 44 on a vertically extending upright frame structure 43 that,like the structure 46, is secured on and projects upwardly from a bottomplate or wall member of the housing 10. I

The main drive shaft 41 at its extending end centrally-carries footloperated lever arm assembly 501 in a secured position thereon, seeparticularly FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. As shown by the solid and dot and dashline positions of FIG. 3, the footoperated assembly or means 50 isadapted to be moved by foot pressure in an up-and-down, seesawing mannerto actuate the shaft 41 clockwise and counterclockwise and thus, thegear mechanism, the rack 25, and the operating member to move theoperating member between its two switching positions. The foot operatedassembly 50 has a pair of oppositely extending arms, levers or members50a and 50b that are respectively provided with foot cross-extendingpedals or treads 51 and 52, and that have a balanced relation onopposite sides of and in a right-angularly extending relation withrespect to the shaft 41. The mid point between the arms 50a and 50b isprovided with an upper sleeve portion 500 that fits over and about theend of the shaft and is secured thereto, as by weld metal.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the foot pedal 51 is pressed downwardly fromits upper position F to its lower position F, this causes the foot pedal52 to be moved in an opposite manner from its lower position G to anupper position G. Down" pressure on the pedal 51, as indicated in FIG. 1by the arrow a, causes the rack 25 to move to the right and produce acorresponding outer, advancing or right-hand movement of the operatingmember or rod 15 to one switching position. On the other hand, a downfoot pressure on the pedal 52, as indicated by the arrow b of FIG. 1,causes rack 25 to retract or move backwardly to the left and produce acorresponding lefthand, inner or backward movement of the operatingmember 15 to its other switching position.

As particularly illustrated in FIG. 4, the above described movementcannot be accomplished, however, while the locking mechanism is eitherin the position of FIG. 4 which represents the retracted position of theoperating member or rod 15 or in a position shown in FIG. 4A whichrepresents the forward position of the operating member 15. To provide asafety feature in the device E which will assure that the rail switch isalways locked when in one of its two positions, the threaded stem ispivotally-connected at its back end, as previously point out, to thelocking bar assembly 55. The assembly 55 has one part, bar or member 56whose clevis 56a is pivotally-secured by pin 57 to the stem 20 and whichtoward its other end, is provided with a pair of spaced-apart fingers orbifurcations 56b to slidably-receive a flattened forwardly extendingtongue 58b of a second locking part, bar or member 58. Each bifurcatedportion 56b is provided with an open-end slot 56c to serve asslidable-adjustment guides for a pair of washer, nut and bolt assemblies59 that extend transversely through and are carried in a spaced relationwith respect to each other by the tongue 58b.

With particular reference to FIGS. 4 and 4A, the means for locking thegear and rack mechanism employs a fixed-position locking block 60 thatis mounted on the floor or bottom member of the housing 10 andcooperates with the abovepositioned locking bar means or assembly 55. Itwill be apparent that the total or overall length or extent of theassembly 55 may be readily adjusted by loosening the bolt and nutassemblies 59 and sliding the two parts 56 and 58 with respect to eachother. The fixed locking block 60 has a forwardly positioned latchingnotch, slot or recess portion 61 that is open to its upper side, and hasa backwardly-spaced latching notch, slot or recess portion 62 that isalso open to its upper side. The part 58 of the locking assembly 55 isprovided with a downwardly projecting latching lug 58c that is adaptedto have a cooperating latching or locking-fitting engagement with eitherone of the slotted portions 61 or 62. When the operating member 15 is inits inner switching position, the latching lug 58c will be in verticalalignment with the latching slot 62 and, due to the weight of theassembly 55 and under the force of gravity, will be urged to droptherein. On the other hand, when the operating member or rod 15 is inits forward switching position, then the latching lug 58c will be inalignment with the forward latching slot portion 61 and will be urged todrop therein by the weight of the assembly 55. Although not shown, aweight member may also be mounted on the part 58, if desired.

It is apparent that the device E is always locked as a safety feature ineither of its two switching positions. Thus, when it is desired to moveits operating member 15 from one switching position to another, it isnecessary to provide means for unlatching the locking means before anattempt is made to actuate the gear and rack mechanism through theagency of the drive shaft 41.

In order to initially unlock the device, the back end of the part 58 ofthe locking bar assembly has a longitudinally-extending, closed-end,guide slot portion 58a to guidably-receive a lower, threaded end portiona of an unlatching operating member or lever 65. As shown particularlyin FIGS. 3 and 4, a guide-bearing sleeve or cylinder 63 is positioned onthe end portion 65a to extend vertically within the slotted portion 58aand to be slidably-guidably secured in position therein by means ofupper and lower lock nut assemblies 64. It will thus be apparent thatthe unlatching member 65 is impositivelyconnected to the back part 58from the standpoint of endwise movement of the part 58 with respectthereto, but is substantially positively connected thereto from thestandpoint of up and down or vertical movement. Thus, when theunlatching member 65 is raised, it will raise the locking assembly 55and thus, in turn, raise the lug 580 out of either one of the slots 61or 62 in which it may be positioned. At this time, the locking barassembly 55 is free to move endwise forwardly or backwardly with the bar25, the stem 20 and the operating member 15.

The unlatching member or rod 65, as shown particularly in FIG. 3, ispivotally-connected at its upper end portion to an end portion of arocker arm or member by means of a through-extending bolt, spacer washerand nut assembly 68. The other end of the rocker arm 70 is pivotallymounted at a fixed location on a sidewall of the housing 10 by a boltand nut assembly 71. A cam yoke part 72 is positioned to extend upwardlyfrom and towards an under edge of the rocker arm 70 at a location behindits midpoint to provide an up-and-down" movement of the arm 70 and thus,a corresponding up-anddown movement of the unlatching member 65. Theyoke 72 has a fixed mounting on the shaft 41, as by means of a set screw73. As a result, any initial, foot-induced down movement on either footpedal 51 or 52 from their respective upper positions of F or G willcause an immediate initial actuation of the rocker member 70 toinitially raise the latching member 65 and thus raise the locking barassembly 58 until its latching lug 58 c is out of an associated latchingnotch or slot portion 61 or 62.

This slight movement or partial rotation of the shaft 41 does notactuate the bevel gear 40, in that its mounting set screw or bolt 40ahas to first ride for the short length of the slot 41b (see FIG. 2)before it engages the end shoulder thereof to thus cause its followingmovement with the shaft 41. As a result of this initial lost motionbetween the beveled gear 40 and the shaft 41, the locking bar 55 isfirst moved to an unlatching or unlocked position before positivemovement is imparted to the gear and rack mechanism to translate turningor rotative type of movement imparted by the foot-operated assembly 50into reciprocating movement, as imparted to the switch operating member15. It will be noted that the assembly 50 will, in view of its type ofpositioned and connected relation, move from either the full lineposition F, G or the dot and dash line position F, G of FIG. 3 to thedot and dash line position F, G or the full line position thereof, F, Gnear the end of each switch changing operation, so that the latching lug580 will be free to drop into an aligned latching slot 61 or 62 at thecompletion of the switching operation. On the other hand, the rocker arm70 is moved initially and selectively from a full line position to thedot and dash line position of FIG. 3, and always returns to the fullline position at the end of each switching movement of the operatingmember 15.

With particular reference to FIG. 3, the cam yoke part 72 has, ineffect, three operating positions. Its normal neutral position isrepresented by the full lines at which cam fingers c and d lie on asubstantially horizontal plane representing a neutral, non-lifting,two-point balanced engagement with the bottom edge of the rocker member70. This is the position when either the foot pedal 51 is in its fulldown position G or the foot pedal 51 is in its full down position F'. Onthe other hand, when down" pressure movement is, for example, impartedto the pedal 52 at its uppermost position G, cam finger d will tilt ormove upwardly to an angular relation represented by d at which time itwill raise the rocker member 70 from its full line to its dot and dashline position of FIG. 3 to then raise the latching lug 580 out of alatching relation with an associated slot 61 or 62. At this time, theother cam finger c has a slightly downwardly-tilted position representedby c. By the same token, down movement on the pedal 51 at its uppermostposition F of FIG. 3 will cause cam finger c to move from the full lineposition of FIG. 3 to an upwardly-tilted or angular relation, such thatthe rocker arm 70 is again moved from its full line to its dot and dashline position of FIG. 3.

It will be further apparent that once the latching lug 580 has beenraised to clear its associated latching slot 61 or 62, the operatingparts of the apparatus are free to move the rack 25 and the member 15.At this time, the latching lug 58c rides on the upper edge of thelocking block 60 and it is thus immaterial whether or not the rocker arm70 is being held in its upper position by a finger of the cam yoke part72. Irrespective of whether the cam 72 is being moved clockwise orcounterclockwise from its neutral position to cause either finger c orfinger d to raise the rocker arm 70, it always, towards the end of themovement of the assembly 50 and of the .operating member 15, arrives ata position at which it releases the rocker arm or member 70 from itsraised position (see the full line position of FIG. 3) to thus permitsuch rocker arm to fall with the locking assembly 55 under the force ofgravity and cause a corresponding movement of the latching lug 58c withrespect to the slot 61 or 62 with which it is then in verticalalignment. It is thus apparent that the operating construction is suchthat it functions to raise and maintain the locking mechanism 55 in anunlatched relation initially and during movement of the gear and rackmechanism that accomplishes movement of the operating member between itsswitching positions. It is also apparent that the gear and rackmechanism as well as the unlatching and locking means have a selective,coordinated operation with respect to each other.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the main operatingapparatus is the same as in the previously described embodiment, but thelocking and unlatching means or mechanism has been modified. To simplifydescription of this embodiment, the same reference numerals have beenused as in the previously described embodiment where the parts areexactly the same, prime affixes have been used where the parts aresubstantially the same but have been slightly modified, and newreference numerals are used for changed or new parts or members.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 6 and 7, the back end of a switchoperating member or connecting rod 15' is shown secured in an offsetrelation to the forward end of a gear rack by means of a threaded sleeve76, locking nut 77, a spacer and connecting block 78 that is integralwith the sleeve 76, and a pair of threaded stems 78a that are carried bythe block 78 and extend through holes in the forward end of the rack25'. If threaded stems 78a are used, then nuts 79 may cooperatetherewith. If desired, headed bolts may be substituted for the stern andnut means 78a and 79.

The back end of the rack 25' is shown removably-secured by athrough-extending bolt and washer assembly 88 to an adjustable lockingbar means or assembly 75. The assembly 75 has a pair of complementary,spaced-apart and opposed locking bar members 81 that are adjustablymounted in a backwardly-extending position on a centrally-extending ormain locking bar member 84. An angle-shaped forwardly positioned lockingbar member 86 is removably-secured by bolts 87 to the front end portionof the central or main member 84 and has a front foot portion 860 whichis directly secured by the bolt and washer assembly 88 to the rack 25'.As particularly illustrated in FIG. 7, the pair of locking members 81have bifurcated or open end central slots 810 through which bolt and nutassemblies extend from a cross-mounted position in the central member84. It will be apparent that the spaced relation between the backmembers 81 and the forward member 86 is adjustable by loosening andtightening the nut and bolt assemblies 85. This provides a suitableadjusted position between a rear locking slot, notch or recess portion82 in the members 81 and a front locking slot, notch or recess portion83 in the members'84 and 86. As shown in FIG. 7, the member 84 has anelongated slot 84a which permits a suitable adjusted position of thelatching slot 82 therealong.

The locking bar assembly 75 is adapted to be engaged by an operatinglatching or locking arm when the gear rack 25' and thus the switchoperating member or rod 15' are in their extreme forward and backwardpositions, representing two track-switching positions. As indicatedparticularly in FIG. 7, when the assembly is in its foremost position,then-the latching or locking arm 90 engages within the locking notch orslot portion 82. On the other hand, when the assembly is in its backmostposition, the arm 90 engages within the locking notch or slot portion83. The weight of the arm serves to cause it to drop into one or theother of the slot portions when vertically aligned therewith. Referringparticularly to FIGS. 7 and 8, the latching or locking arm 90 is, at itsother end, pivotally mounted by a nut and bolt assembly 92 in a clevis91 that extends from a bottom plate of the housing 10'. The arm 90 israised out of its latching or locking position, as shown by thedirection of the arrow of FIG. 8, by an upward tilting of the forwardend of a foot-actuated unlatching arm member 93.

The unlatching arm member 93 is pivotally mounted on an extension flangeor base portion 11a of the housing 10 by means of a clevis 94 and a nutand bolt assembly 95, to engage the under edge of the arm 90, and toextend beneath the foot lever assembly 50 and in alignment along thedrive shaft 41. The arm member 93 has a forwardly positioned foot pedalportion 93a that is employed for downwardly applied foot pressure tofirst unlock or unlatch the locking mechanism or means by raising theforward end of the arm 93 and raising the latching arm member 90 out ofan associated notch or slot portion 82 or 83. When this occurs, thenfoot pressure may be applied to an upper one of the pedals 51 or 52 tomove the switch to a desired switching position, the same as in thepreviously described embodiment. Also, as in the previously describedembodiment, the latching or locking operation is automaticallyaccomplished by gravity or the weight of operating parts when the rack25 reaches its foremost and backmost switching positions.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention may be adapted or modifiedin accordance with the novel concept involved for stylizing it tovarious foot-operated switching requirements.

I claim:

1. In an improved railway track switch operating device, a supportinghousing, a reciprocating switch-operating member extending from saidhousing, a gear and rack mechanism operatively positioned within thehousing and connected to said operating member to advance it forwardlyto one switching position and to retract it backwardly to a secondswitching position, a drive shaft operatively positioned in said housingand connected to said gear and rack mechanism for actuating it, saiddrive shaft extending outwardly from said housing substantiallyhorizontally in an opposite direction with respect to said operatingmember, a foot-operated arm member secured centrally on an outer end ofsaid drive shaft and having foot pedal portions at opposite ends thereoffor effecting alternate up and down movement of each end of said armmember to rotate said shaft in clockwise and counterclockwise directionsand through said gear and rack mechanism to reciprocate said operatingmember between its two switching positions, means for locking saidoperating member when it is in either one of its two switchingpositions, unlatching means for said locking means, said locking meanshaving a fixed-position locking element secured to the housing, alocking bar means adapted to be moved into and out of locking engagementwith said locking element, said unlatching means being operated by saiddrive shaft for moving said locking bar out of latching engagement withsaid locking element, means associated with said drive shaft forinitially operating said unlatching means and for thereafter actuatingsaid gear and rack mechanism, said means for operating said unlatchingmeans being a cam secured on said drive shaft, and said cam having apair of opposite cam fingers to actuate said unlatching means uponclockwise as well as counterclockwise movement of said drive shaft.

2. In a switch operating device as defined in claim 1, said locking barmeans being an adjustable latching bar assembly carried by and movablewith said operating member, said fixed locking element being a partcooperating with said bar assembly for receiving said bar assembly inlocking engagement at the completion of movement of said operatingmember to one of its switching positions, and said unlatching meansbeing connected to said latching bar assembly for unlocking it withrespect to said locking part.

3. In a switchoperating device as defined in claim 2, said unlatchingmeans being connected between said latching bar assembly and said driveshaft to automatically unlock said bar assembly upon the application ofdownward force to an end foot pedal portion of said arm member that isin an up posi' tion.

4. In a switch-operating device as defined in claim 1, saidfixed-position locking element being a block within said housing havinga pair of spaced-apart latching notch portions therein representing thetwo switching positions of said operating member, said locking bar meanshaving latching lug means for engagement within said latching notchportions of said block, and said unlatching means being positionedbetween said locking bar means and said drive shaft for raising saidlatching lug means out of locking engagement with said latching notchportions when said arm assembly is initially actuated by an applicationof foot pressure to move said operating member from one switchingposition to the other.

5. In a switch-operating device as defined in claim 4, said locking barmeans being provided with means for urging said locking bar meanstowards said locking block, and lost motion connecting means betweensaid drive shaft and said gear and rack mechanism.

6. In a switch-operating device as defined in claim 1, said fixedposition locking element being a block provided with a pair ofspaced-apart latching notch portions, said locking bar means beingprovided with latching lug means for alternate locking engagement withinsaid latching notch portions when said operating member is moved to itsswitching positions, and said unlatching means having a member assemblyoperativelyconnected between said locking bar means and said drive shaftfor lifting said locking bar means and its latching lug means out oflocking engagement with-an associated one of said latching notchportions.

7. In a switch operating device as defined in claim 6, said locking barmeans having means for urging it towards said locking block, wherebysaid latching lug means will be moved into locking engagement with alatching notch portion with respect to which it is in alignment, andlost motion means operatively-connecting said drive shaft to gear meansof said gear and rack mechanism, whereby said gear and rack mechanismwill be actuated after said drive shaft has actuated said unlatchingmeans.

8. In a switch-operating device as defined in claim 1, said locking barmeans having a pair of longitudinally-adjustable locking bar members,and an endwise-slidable operating connection between one of said barmembers and said unlatching means, and a pivotal connection between saidgear and rack mechanism and the other of said bar members.

9. In a switch-operating device as defined in claim 1, the gearmechanism of said gear and rack mechanism comprising, a beveled gearoperatively-carried on said drive shaft, a beveled pinion meshing withsaid beveled gear, a ring gear operated by said beveled pinion, and apinion meshing between said ring gear and the rack of said gear and rackmechanism.

10. In a switch-operating device as defined in claim 9, meansguidably-positioning said rack within said housing for back and forthmovement under actuation by said last-mentioned pinion, a sleeve securedto one end of said rack, and a stem extending-adjustably through saidsleeve and connected at one end to said operating member and connectedat its other end to said locking means.

11. In a railway track switch-operating device, an enclosed housing, areciprocating switch-operating member extending from one end of saidhousing, a gear and rack mechanism operatively-positioned within saidhousing and connected to said operating member to advance it forwardlyto one switching position and to retract it backwardly to. a secondswitching position, a drive shaft operatively-positioned in said housingand connected to said gear and rack mechanism for actuating it, saiddrive shaft extending through an opposite end of said housing, afoot-operated arm assembly secured on an outer end of said drive shaftand extending at substantially right angles thereto for alternate up anddown movement to turn said shaft back and forth and, through said gearand rack mechanism, to reciprocate said operating member between its twoswitching positions, locking bar means having a pair of longitudinallyspaced-apart latching notch portions therealong representing. twopositions of the switch-operating member, a locking arm pivotallymounted for alternate locking engagement within each of said latchingnotch portions when said arm is in substantial vertical alignmenttherewith, said locking bar means being at one end secured to said rackmechanism for movement therewith, a pivotally mounted unlatching arm forcooperating with said locking arm to preliminarily raise it out of alocking position within an associated one of said notch portions beforesaid foot-operated arm assembly is operated to move saidswitch-operating member from one switching position to another switchingposition.

12. In a switch-operating device as defined in claim 11, said unlatchingarm being pivotally mounted on a backwardly-extending portion of saidhousing in substantial alignment with and underneath said foot-operatedarm assembly, and having a foot pedal extending backwardly beyond saidfoot-operated arm assembly for down movement to raise said locking armmember out of locking engagement within an associated one of saidlatching notch portions.

13. In a switch-operating device as defined in claim 12, said lockingbar means having adjustably mounted portions for varying the distancebetween said latching notch portions to correspond to switchingpositions of said switch-operating member.

14. In an improved railway track switch-operating device, a supportinghousing, a reciprocating switch-operating member extending from saidhousing, a gear and rack mechanism operatively positioned within thehousing and connected to said operating member to advance it forwardlyto one switching position and to retract it backwardly to a secondswitching position, a drive shaft operatively positioned in said housingand connected to said gear and rack mechanism for actuating it, saiddrive shaft extending outwardly from said housing substantiallyhorizontally in an opposite direction with respect to said operatingmember, a foot-operated arm member secured centrally on an outer end ofsaid drive shaft and having foot pedal portions at opposite ends thereoffor effecting alternate up and down movement of each end of said armmember to rotate said shaft in clockwise and counterclockwise directionsand through said gear and rack mechanism to reciprocate said operatingmember between its two switching positions, means for locking saidoperating member when it is in either one of its two switchingpositions, unlatching means for said locking means, said locking meanspart when down movement is applied to an end foot pedal portion of saidarm member that is in an up position, whereby said arm member maythereafter move said operating member from one into another of itsswitching positions.

gig? e STATES PATENT CERTIFICATE OF CORREC'ELION Patent No. 3 ,65-2 IDated l-lez'ch 28 1 972 It'is certified that efror apfiears in theabove-identified patent that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected asshown below:

I and 9' C olumn 1 l fi .nes 26 and 2:8, each appearance, change devlce"to --dev1se--.

Columr 3,,"fline 2, after {"foot delete the l" and insert a hyphen;113518 1 2, change aint" t e Column 5, line 7', changev "51" to -52.

Signed and see l ed this. 155th day of August 1972'.

(SEAL) Attest:

r EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents

1. In an improved railway track switch operating device, a supportinghousing, a reciprocating switch-operating member extending from saidhousing, a gear and rack mechanism operatively positioned within thehousing and connected to said operating member to advance it forwardlyto one switching position and to retract it backwardly to a secondswitching position, a drive shaft operatively positioned in said housingand connected to said gear and rack mechanism for actuating it, saiddrive shaft extending outwardly from said housing substantiallyhorizontally in an opposite direction with respect to said operatingmember, a foot-operated arm member secured centrally on an outer end ofsaid drive shaft and having foot pedal portions at opposite ends thereoffor effecting alternate up and down movement of each end of said armmember to rotate said shaft in clockwise and counterclockwise directionsand through said gear and rack mechanism to reciprocate said operatingmember between its two switching positions, means for locking saidoperating member when it is in either one of its two switchingpositions, unlatching means for said locking means, said locking meanshaving a fixed-position locking element secured to the housing, alocking bar means adapted to be moved into and out of locking engagementwith said locking element, said unlatching means being operated by saiddrive shaft for moving said locking bar out of latching engagement withsaid locking element, means associated with said drive shaft forinitially operating said unlatching means and for thereafter actuatingsaid gear and rack mechanism, said means for operating said unlatchingmeans being a cam secured on said drive shaft, and said cam having apair of opposite cam fingers to actuate said unlatching means uponclockwise as well as counterclockwise movement of said drive shaft. 2.In a switch operating device as defined in claim 1, said locking barmeans being An adjustable latching bar assembly carried by and movablewith said operating member, said fixed locking element being a partcooperating with said bar assembly for receiving said bar assembly inlocking engagement at the completion of movement of said operatingmember to one of its switching positions, and said unlatching meansbeing connected to said latching bar assembly for unlocking it withrespect to said locking part.
 3. In a switch-operating device as definedin claim 2, said unlatching means being connected between said latchingbar assembly and said drive shaft to automatically unlock said barassembly upon the application of downward force to an end foot pedalportion of said arm member that is in an up position.
 4. In aswitch-operating device as defined in claim 1, said fixed-positionlocking element being a block within said housing having a pair ofspaced-apart latching notch portions therein representing the twoswitching positions of said operating member, said locking bar meanshaving latching lug means for engagement within said latching notchportions of said block, and said unlatching means being positionedbetween said locking bar means and said drive shaft for raising saidlatching lug means out of locking engagement with said latching notchportions when said arm assembly is initially actuated by an applicationof foot pressure to move said operating member from one switchingposition to the other.
 5. In a switch-operating device as defined inclaim 4, said locking bar means being provided with means for urgingsaid locking bar means towards said locking block, and lost motionconnecting means between said drive shaft and said gear and rackmechanism.
 6. In a switch-operating device as defined in claim 1, saidfixed position locking element being a block provided with a pair ofspaced-apart latching notch portions, said locking bar means beingprovided with latching lug means for alternate locking engagement withinsaid latching notch portions when said operating member is moved to itsswitching positions, and said unlatching means having a member assemblyoperatively-connected between said locking bar means and said driveshaft for lifting said locking bar means and its latching lug means outof locking engagement with an associated one of said latching notchportions.
 7. In a switch operating device as defined in claim 6, saidlocking bar means having means for urging it towards said locking block,whereby said latching lug means will be moved into locking engagementwith a latching notch portion with respect to which it is in alignment,and lost motion means operatively-connecting said drive shaft to gearmeans of said gear and rack mechanism, whereby said gear and rackmechanism will be actuated after said drive shaft has actuated saidunlatching means.
 8. In a switch-operating device as defined in claim 1,said locking bar means having a pair of longitudinally-adjustablelocking bar members, and an endwise-slidable operating connectionbetween one of said bar members and said unlatching means, and a pivotalconnection between said gear and rack mechanism and the other of saidbar members.
 9. In a switch-operating device as defined in claim 1, thegear mechanism of said gear and rack mechanism comprising, a beveledgear operatively-carried on said drive shaft, a beveled pinion meshingwith said beveled gear, a ring gear operated by said beveled pinion, anda pinion meshing between said ring gear and the rack of said gear andrack mechanism.
 10. In a switch-operating device as defined in claim 9,means guidably-positioning said rack within said housing for back andforth movement under actuation by said last-mentioned pinion, a sleevesecured to one end of said rack, and a stem extending-adjustably throughsaid sleeve and connected at one end to said operating member andconnected at its other end to said locking means.
 11. In a railway trackswitch-operating device, an enclosed housing, a reciprocatingswiTch-operating member extending from one end of said housing, a gearand rack mechanism operatively-positioned within said housing andconnected to said operating member to advance it forwardly to oneswitching position and to retract it backwardly to a second switchingposition, a drive shaft operatively-positioned in said housing andconnected to said gear and rack mechanism for actuating it, said driveshaft extending through an opposite end of said housing, a foot-operatedarm assembly secured on an outer end of said drive shaft and extendingat substantially right angles thereto for alternate up and down movementto turn said shaft back and forth and, through said gear and rackmechanism, to reciprocate said operating member between its twoswitching positions, locking bar means having a pair of longitudinallyspaced-apart latching notch portions therealong representing twopositions of the switch-operating member, a locking arm pivotallymounted for alternate locking engagement within each of said latchingnotch portions when said arm is in substantial vertical alignmenttherewith, said locking bar means being at one end secured to said rackmechanism for movement therewith, a pivotally mounted unlatching arm forcooperating with said locking arm to preliminarily raise it out of alocking position within an associated one of said notch portions beforesaid foot-operated arm assembly is operated to move saidswitch-operating member from one switching position to another switchingposition.
 12. In a switch-operating device as defined in claim 11, saidunlatching arm being pivotally mounted on a backwardly-extending portionof said housing in substantial alignment with and underneath saidfoot-operated arm assembly, and having a foot pedal extending backwardlybeyond said foot-operated arm assembly for ''''down'''' movement toraise said locking arm member out of locking engagement within anassociated one of said latching notch portions.
 13. In aswitch-operating device as defined in claim 12, said locking bar meanshaving adjustably mounted portions for varying the distance between saidlatching notch portions to correspond to switching positions of saidswitch-operating member.
 14. In an improved railway trackswitch-operating device, a supporting housing, a reciprocatingswitch-operating member extending from said housing, a gear and rackmechanism operatively positioned within the housing and connected tosaid operating member to advance it forwardly to one switching positionand to retract it backwardly to a second switching position, a driveshaft operatively positioned in said housing and connected to said gearand rack mechanism for actuating it, said drive shaft extendingoutwardly from said housing substantially horizontally in an oppositedirection with respect to said operating member, a foot-operated armmember secured centrally on an outer end of said drive shaft and havingfoot pedal portions at opposite ends thereof for effecting alternate upand down movement of each end of said arm member to rotate said shaft inclockwise and counterclockwise directions and through said gear and rackmechanism to reciprocate said operating member between its two switchingpositions, means for locking said operating member when it is in eitherone of its two switching positions, unlatching means for said lockingmeans, said locking means having a pair of cooperating latch parts oneof which is fixed to said housing and the other of which is connectedfor movement with said operating member, and lever means connectedbetween said other part and said drive shaft for initially moving saidother part out of locking engagement with said one part when downmovement is applied to an end foot pedal portion of said arm member thatis in an up position, whereby said arm member may thereafter move saidoperating member from one into another of its switching positions.